Tallahassee, FL - Individuals wanted for non-violent
misdemeanor crimes in Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla Counties will soon have the
chance to turn themselves in at a local church, where they may receive
favorable consideration on their open warrants.

Individuals who are hiding from the law pose a risk to themselves, the
communities in which they hide, and the law enforcement officers who pursue
them. A Congressionally-authorized United States Marshals Service initiative
known as Fugitive Safe Surrender will take place Wednesday, December 8th,
through Saturday, December 11th, at the Bethel AME Church, located at 501
West Orange Avenue in Tallahassee, Florida. There are no religious
requirements and a secular site will also be available. Public defenders
will be available to surrenderees.

There are currently over 20,000 open warrants in Leon County, and over
10,000 warrants in Gadsden and Wakulla Counties, with many of them for
non-violent offenses. Living with an open warrant often leads to driver’s
license suspension or renewal complications, unemployment, or housing
problems and interrupts the ability to be a productive citizen. The Fugitive
Safe Surrender program encourages wanted individuals to turn themselves in,
address their warrant, and move forward with their lives.

More than 25,500 fugitives have surrendered to authorities at 20 Fugitive
Safe Surrender sites in 18 states since the program began five years ago in
Cleveland, Ohio. Each site has drawn hundreds – and in many cases thousands
– of men and women who chose to take the first step toward a fresh start.
This will be the first time the program is available in Florida.

As many as 97% of the individuals who surrendered for non-violent offenses
at those sites went home the same day after receiving probation, paying a
fine, or receiving a new court date. Though the program is geared toward
non-violent misdemeanor offenses committed in Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla
Counties, people with warrants for more serious criminal offenses can also
avail themselves of Fugitive Safe Surrender but may not have the opportunity
for same-day resolution of their outstanding criminal matters.

The FSS program creates a partnership between the clergy, the courts, and
social services agencies. That partnership is supported by local and Federal
law enforcement. The Tallahassee partnership includes the U.S. Marshals
Service; Bethel AME Church; Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor
Vehicles, Florida’s Second Judicial Circuit, the Public Defender’s Office
and State Attorney’s Office of the Second Judicial Circuit, Leon, Gadsden,
and Wakulla County Probation, Florida Department of Corrections Probation
Office, Clerk of the Court for Leon, Gadsden, and Wakulla Counties, Leon
County, City of Tallahassee, Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Gadsden County
Sheriff’s Office, Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, Tallahassee Police
Department, Deliverance Temple Ministries, Wakulla Springs Baptist Church,
Wildwood Baptist Church, and several local service organizations.

The U.S. Marshals and other law enforcement agencies pursue tens of
thousands of fugitives each year, with every arrest containing the potential
for violence. Fugitives don’t just put themselves and their pursuers at risk
– they endanger their families and communities as well. The Fugitive Safe
Surrender program reduces this risk by allowing individuals to surrender
safely at a neutral location to receive favorable consideration by the
court.

For more information please call the information line at 850-942-9670.